Pundit Krishna — an appreciation

THE EDITOR: Let this TT multicultural mosaic celebrate and not leave unheralded and unappreciated the enduring love, unvarnished brotherhood and sanatanist care for all mankind that distinugished the Hindu missionary life and zeal of the late Krishen Pundit. This is how he was reverently and affectionately known throughout TT, the Caribbean and within the TT diaspora in Canada and the United States by thousands of chelas (devotees). The late Krishen Pundit is survived by his three daughters, his four sons, (three of whom are pundits, two of them I taught at Hillview) and his equally revered brothers, including Pundit Hardath of Cumuto and Dr Deodath Maharaj of Canada.

I join in extending our sympathy to his children, to the Sanatan Dharma Mahasabha as well as to the grief striken people of Caroni. The late Pundit was pivotal and central to the life of Caroni. Devotees journeyed from far and wide to peform hawans at his Caroni mandir. He was an icon and role model — our Caroni ambassador. He is our proud, unique and unparall- eled Caroni contribution to the sustained and unremitting propagation of the universal virtues and values of Caribbean Hinduism. Without fear of contradiction, no other Pundit, living or deceased was held in and showered with so much awe, devotion, adulation and respect that at times bordered on adoration for our late Dharma Acharya. Citizens across the religious divides gravitated to Punditji for advice in good times and in bad. I knew Krishen Pundit for 53 years. His was a compelling cosmic reverence, of uncompromising sincerity and deep loyalty to his Hindu sanatanist faith to the extent that he declined the National accolade of the Trinity Cross in 1995 on the grounds that it was inconsistent with the multicultural make up of TT. But this should not now dominate our cherished recollections and be used as an important benchmark to assess the epic leela of Sant Krishen Das. Pundits like Krishenji do not die. The good that they do as well as their spiritual legacy cannot be dimmed. It will transcend time and space. He has attained moksha and will dwell immortally in our hearts and minds. Itna To Karna Swami Jab Pran Tan Se Nikle. Supplications to you God at a time when the soul is leaving the body.

STEPHEN KANGAL
Caroni